'No one owns wildlife': Center for Wildlife holds its annual open house

Wednesday

Sep 13, 2017 at 11:01 AMSep 13, 2017 at 11:01 AM

By Ralph Morangnews@seacoastonline.com

YORK — Evan Danilowski, age 2 1/2, touched a California king snake at the Center for Wildlife on Sunday and asked, “Do you have an orange one?” Elvis, the king snake, is a conservative gray and brown.

Evan and his parents, Beth and Greg Danilowski, of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, were attending the annual open house at the Center for Wildlife, at 385 Mountain Road. Beth said Evan likes the color orange.

There were animals of many colors and species to see at the open house. Since 1986, the Center for Wildlife has provided medical care, safe sanctuary and humane treatment for sick, injured and orphaned wildlife, until they can be released back into the wild.

Three birds were released Sunday during the open house. But some animals can never be released because of damaged wings, missing eyes, or because they were former pets that cannot fend for themselves. They become animal ambassadors.

One popular ambassador is Freyja, a peregrine falcon. The center published a book about her in 2011. As Education and Outreach Coordinate Sarah Kern brought Freyja out of her cage, Freyja had a mouse in her talons, which she proceeded to eat unmindful of the audience. Kern told people that the peregrine falcon is the fastest animal on earth: it can dive at up to 230 mph.

To prepare for the open house, volunteers from Lavallee Brensinger Architects in Portland held a clean-up day on the grounds Friday. Center for Wildlife Executive Director Kristen Lamb said that 175 people had visited by 12:30 p.m. Sunday.

She said that 95 percent of the animal injuries the center staff members see are caused by humans. Many injuries happen when an animal finds discarded food on a roadway. Others can be caused by fishing line entanglements or the result of pesticide use.

“People can make small shifts in daily behavior to help animals,” Lamb said. Such as not throwing unwanted food out of a car window, not using pesticides, and removing fishing line from riverbanks. People are also advised to keep cats indoors; nationally, cats kill 3 million song birds each year.

Amelie Marchand, 8, of North Reading, Massachusetts, was chosen by staff members to release a rehabilitated house finch. Her grandparents Guy and Paula Fontaine of Old Orchard Beach once found an injured red-bellied woodpecker, and after “calling in a panic” to find help, they discovered the Center for Wildlife. They since have donated supplies to the center.

Bianca, the barred owl, has been an animal ambassador for 22 years. Sarah Kern said Bianca has also fostered 50 baby owls.

Skeeter is a gray squirrel with neurological problems that cause vertigo, but he is still an ambassador.

A never-ending line of people waited for the baby bird tours in one of the buildings.

Veterinarian Dr. John Means has volunteered his time to the center since 1990. Animals needing X-rays are taken to his practice in North Hampton, New Hampshire. He and center Medical Clinic Director Sonja Ahlberg said the center has a lead testing machine for loons, gulls and other sea birds.

Judy Wilbur of Portsmouth said she overcame her fear of snakes because of Elvis.

“He’s the first snake I touched,” she said.

Handler Lori Dennis said, “He’s a good starter snake.” Wilbur now is a volunteer and often picks up injured animals for those who have found them.

As visitors toured the animal enclosures containing owls, a turkey vulture and a porcupine, Development Director Emma Balina talked about the expansion of the Center for Wildlife. The center has purchased 8 1/2 acres of land adjacent to its current location from the York Water District. Some existing buildings will be moved to the new site, and with new buildings containing an auditorium, classrooms and a workshop, the center will expand from 2,000 square feet to 6,000. A ground-breaking will take place in the spring.

Executive Director Lamb said that in 2012 the center treated 1,400 animals. For 2017 it is on track to treat 2,000. “We get no federal or state funding,” she said. “No one owns wildlife.”

The center is open all year to visitors who can take a self-guided tour and see the animal ambassadors in their outdoor enclosures.

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